Japan’s mobile mosque takes ‘omotenashi’ hospitality everywhere

Source: The Japan News

URAYASU, Japan – A “mobile mosque” was unveiled in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture, in late September, with Muslim residents of the Kanto region coming to say their prayers. Capable of being sent anywhere, this mosque on wheels was created with an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, as well as other international events that will be held in Japan.

The mosque looks like an ordinary truck, about 12 meters long and about 2.5 meters wide when it drives on the road. Within several minutes of parking, the sides expand to the right and left, rendering the truck about six meters wide. The vehicle has now become a 48-square-meter prayer room that can accommodate more than 50 people at once.

The prayer room has four air conditioners. It’s also equipped with water tanks and outdoor faucets so the faithful can wash before making their prayers.

A Tokyo-based event organizing company and others came up with the idea for the mosque, in a bid to provide omotenashi Japanese hospitality for Muslims. It was created by the executive committee for the mobile mosque project for about ¥100 million.